Denmark is proposing ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2010

Cigarettes Must Be Ban. Image Credit

Denmark has announced plans to ban the sale of cigarettes and nicotine-containing products to anybody born after 2010.

According to Health Minister Magnus Heunicke, the move aims to prevent the next generation of Danes from using tobacco in any manner.

"We are prepared to prohibit sales to this generation [born in 2010] if required by gradually raising the buying age limit," Heunicke stated.

Danish residents under the age of 18 are banned from purchasing tobacco or smoking electronic cigarettes under current legislation.

However, Heunicke estimates that roughly 31% of those aged 15 to 29 still smoke.

Smoking is the top cause of cancer in the Nordic country, with 13,600 deaths per year, according to the Health Minister.

According to a survey done by the Danish Cancer Association, 64 % supported the plan to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to children born after 2010. 67 percent of those polled in the 18-34 age group supported it.

New Zealand said in December that it would gradually phase out the sale of tobacco by raising the age at which it can be purchased beginning in 2027.

In Denmark, the Social Democrat government similarly wants to reduce young people's alcohol usage.

The age limit for purchasing alcoholic beverages will be raised from 16 to 18 for all drinks containing less than 16.5% alcohol.

Source: Euronews